Maccas get a helping hand

Feb 25, 2022

Bringing Maccas back: More than 140,000 Macquarie perch have been released in to regional rivers.

Hundreds of thousands of young Macquarie perch have been released into waterways across north-east Victoria.

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Known as ‘Maccas’, the native fish is an endangered species and stocking is a critical way to accelerate their recovery in the wild.

Victorian Fisheries Authority chief executive officer Travis Dowling said efforts to “bring Maccas back” had been under way for several years, especially since the 2019-20 bushfires further impacted their populations.

“Our efforts are supported by recreational fishing licence fees and the Victorian Government’s $35 million Go Fishing plan to get more people fishing, more often,” Mr Dowling said.

“This year, those efforts were assisted by a grant through the Landcare-led Bushfire Recovery Grants Program. This funding allowed us to transport wild-caught Macquarie perch brood-fish more quickly."

Stockings were complemented by in-stream fish habitat and riverbank improvement works by locals, the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Landcare volunteers, recreational anglers and Traditional Owners.

Mr Dowling said the Landcare grant also meant staff at the VFA’s Snobs Creek hatchery near Eildon could spend more time breeding these valuable fish and increase the number of fingerlings produced for stocking.

“That dedication resulted in almost three times as many Macquarie perch being stocked this year compared to last,” he said.

“Stocking a record number of Maccas this season is a credit to the cooperation and dedication of several groups including volunteers, fishers, Traditional Owners and government agencies.”

Last week 145,200 fingerlings were released into: